Soccer-Xhaka and Embolo to return to international duty after Covid test investigation

Soccer Football - Premier League - Sunderland v Leeds United - Stadium of Light, Sunderland, Britain - October 25, 2026 Sunderland's Granit Xhaka in action REUTERS/Scott Heppell

Oct 27 (Reuters) - The Swiss ⁠Football Association (SFV) said on Tuesday that GranitXhaka and Breel ⁠Embolo will be available for selection again next month, after ‌completing an investigation into forged COVID-19 vaccination certificates acquired by the pair.

The SFV and Xhaka agreed that he would miss Switzerland's October Nations League fixtures with ​Scotland, Slovenia and North Macedonia, after the ⁠midfielder admitted to acquiring a ⁠fake certificate in order to be able to travel and compete ⁠in ‌2022.

Forward Embolo was also dropped from the Switzerland squad later in September for the same reason.

"The SFV has ⁠examined the two cases comprehensively and has come to ​the conclusion that ‌the return of the players after the conclusion of ⁠the legal proceedings ​and taking into account the sporting consequences (four missed international matches in September and October) is justifiable," the SFV said in a statement.

"We are ⁠convinced that a return to the national ​team in November is responsible and right," added national team director Pierluigi Tami.

Both Xhaka and Embolo were given a suspended fine of 150,000 ⁠Swiss francs ($181,225), which will be in place for a probationary period of two years.

Xhaka apologised and took responsibility for his actions, calling it 'a mistake'.

The statement went on to confirm that Xhaka would ​not have the captaincy removed, highlighting that ⁠the decision remains with the team and the coach, Murat Yakin.

Switzerland ​face Slovenia and Scotland in their final ‌two Nations League group games in ​November, and sit top of Group E with 12 points.

($1 = 0.8277 Swiss francs)

(Reporting by Ruairidh BarlowEditing by Christian Radnedge)

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足球 - 英超联赛 - 桑德兰对阵利兹联 - 光明球场，桑德兰，英国 - 2026年10月25日 桑德兰球员格拉尼特·扎卡比赛瞬间 路透社/斯科特·赫佩尔

10 月 27 日（路透社）——瑞士足球协会（SFV）周二表示，格拉尼特·扎卡和布雷尔·恩博洛在完成对两人伪造新冠疫苗接种证书的调查后，将于下个月再次被选中参加比赛。

在中场球员扎卡承认为了能够参加 2022 年的比赛而获取了“假证书”后，瑞士国家足球队 (SFV) 和扎卡达成一致，他将缺席瑞士队 10 月份与苏格兰、斯洛文尼亚和北马其顿的欧国联比赛。

前锋恩博洛也因同样的原因在9月下旬被瑞士国家队除名。

SFV在一份声明中表示：“SFV已对这两起案件进行了全面审查，并得出结论，在法律程序结束后，考虑到竞技后果（9月和10月错过了四场国际比赛），允许球员回归是合理的。”

国家队主管皮埃路易吉·塔米补充道：“我们确信，11 月份重返国家队是负责任且正确的做法。”

扎卡和恩博洛均被处以 15 万瑞士法郎（181,225 美元）的缓刑罚款，缓刑期为两年。

扎卡为自己的行为道歉并承担责任，称其为“一个错误”。

声明继续确认扎卡不会被剥夺队长袖标，并强调“最终决定权仍然在球队和教练穆拉特·亚金手中”。

瑞士将在 11 月的最后两场欧洲国家联赛小组赛中分别对阵斯洛文尼亚和苏格兰，目前以 12 分位列 E 组榜首。

（1美元=0.8277瑞士法郎）

（Ruairidh Barlow报道，Christian Radnedge编辑）

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